ABINGDON, Va. -- Bob R. Southerland, of Greeneville, who is retiring as vice president of community and governmental affairs for Food City Stores, was honored by the company Monday evening.

Southerland, his wife, Sue, and their daughters, Wendy Manalac and Suzanne Fisher, were guests of honor at a large reception and dinner here.

According to a Food City spokesman, Southerland has been employed with the Food City group for more than 53 years, one of the longest employment terms within the company's history.

His retirement, which was recently announced, will become effective later this month.

Steven C. Smith, Food City's president and CEO, said, "Throughout these many years, Bob has served in a number of key positions and contributed an immeasurable amount of guidance, knowledge and experience to help ensure the continued success of our company."

Smith added, "Bob has also been very active in the public and governmental sectors, providing valuable interaction with community, business and legislative leaders throughout our market area.

"He will be sorely missed, but we certainly wish him and his family all the best with his well-deserved retirement."

In response, Southerland said, "It has been a great honor to spend my career working in the grocery business.

"From the design and development of the original Food City marketing plan and assembling a world-class advertising team to working in community and governmental affairs, I have been able to be an integral part of a growing and respected corporation.

"I was fortunate to work with talented people and I tried to learn everything I could.

"Working with Jack and Steve Smith was an incredible experience for which I am thankful.

"I am also thankful to my wife and family for supporting me throughout my entire career. It has been the delight of my life to work for K-VA-T Food Stores," he concluded.

(Editor's note: Southerland's comment of appreciation to "Jack" Smith was a reference to the late Jack C. Smith, widely known founder and longtime former chairman of K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc.

(Jack Smith, the father of Steve Smith, died in 2007 at the age of 81.

(Headquartered in Abingdon, K-VA-T operates 105 Food City and Super Dollar supermarkets throughout Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, and Northeast Tennessee.)

A company press release recalled that Southerland "literally grew-up in the grocery business, beginning with his first job bagging groceries."

After attending Carson-Newman College and East Tennessee State University, he moved to Greeneville in 1962, and served as a one-man advertising department for Super Dollar Markets, a division of Quality Foods, Inc., which was based here.

During that time, the release said, he developed a number of creative and cutting-edge advertising strategies for Quality Foods.

"In 1972," the release continued, "it became evident that Super Dollar Markets needed a new identity, and Southerland played an instrumental role in naming a brand-new division of Quality Foods: Food City.

"He also designed the Food City logo that is still in use by the company today."

He continued to work for Quality Foods until that company was acquired by K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. in 1984.

"Southerland was named vice president of marketing and advertising for the chain in 1985, garnering innumerable advertising awards during his position tenure."

In 1996, he was promoted to the company's vice president of community and governmental affairs, working with government officials throughout the tri-state area.

He frequently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with federal legislators on business-related issues, and worked closely with local chambers of commerce and various other community leaders.

Southerland has remained very active within the Greeneville community and the Northeast Tennessee region.

From 1983-94 he served on the Greeneville City Board of Education, of which he was vice chairman for three years. During his tenure, he was appointed to the All-Tennessee School Board.

He has also served on the Tennessee Grocer's Education Foundation Board and as a member of the board of directors for Quality Foods, Incorporated.

Southerland currently serves on the East Tennessee State University Foundation, is a member of the Laughlin Health Care Foundation Board of Trustees, and is a member of Link Hills Country Club and the Greene County YMCA.

A member and former president of the Greeneville Exchange Club and a member of Asbury United Methodist Church, he previously served on the Greeneville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Greeneville-Greene County Center for Technology Advisory Council, the Appalachia Chapter March of Dimes Executive Board, and the former Greeneville-Greene County Area Chamber of Commerce's board of directors.